Godly Maturity

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2 Timothy 2:22-24 (NKJV)

²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.

When a child of God is committed to Him, this is a quality that will be evident to others. Such a person will desire the heart of God and also desire to please Him. This desire is in the process of maturity. Godly maturity involves two aspects:

1.   Keeping away from childish actions and

2.   Dwelling on that which is pure and right

The first action that Paul tells us to do is to flee youthful lusts. We are to treat lust as childish and as a reprehensible cancer which we cannot stand to even think about. As a child, we play with sin and foolishness. The child of God’s heart should be so sold out to the ways of God so that childish behavior is looked at as being stupid. Let’s face it, an adult does not put their hand on a hot stove to play with fire, they respect the fact that by this behavior they will get burned. Physically we may need to flee (run from) lust, but mentally we must do this also.

After putting aside childish actions, we need to pursue godliness. Righteousness, faith, love and peace are only attained by full submission to the Spirit of God. This is only accomplished in His power and our willingness to be completely humbled and broken by God for His use. Each of these aspects listed must be studied, dwelled upon and desired by the child of God. As the Spirit of God takes greater control in our life, we can be used with these qualities. It will not happen overnight, these are the life time challenges that God has given each one of us.

Paul added that we need to seek these things around those who call about the Lord out of a pure heart. We all need Godly examples, Godly leaders, Godly friends and many Godly influences in order to be established unto full Godly maturity.

We also need to realize where a discussion is going before we get involved. As children, we engage in silly fights and arguments that only show our lack of knowledge and experience. But, as a mature child of God, we need to stop such actions before they start. Paul says that they only “generate strife”, (vs. 23b). Avoiding an argument is much less messy than getting out of it. For example, try to remember what you argued about yesterday and was it worth the hurt that it caused?

The requirements of the humble servant of God involve lack of hostility, gentleness, ability to teach and patience. A heart fully embraced by the Spirit of God will see a silly dispute before is started and avoid it.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith